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This book deals with the challenges posed by the transformation of society towards much-needed sustainability. Especially, it deals with the local condi tionalities ofthis change, but seen in a global context. Indeed, its two cases are Swedish, but the problems ofhow to relate to a globalized world are common in the world oftoday. The two cases have been deliberately chosen to expose alternative types ofchoices for the local communities involved: one that relates to the nation state and one that may use short cuts and relate more directly to a broader context while still being very local. This research has been part of a broader EU project and constitutes the Swedish contribution. The other countries involved in the European project were Austria, Portugal, Greece and the United Kingdom. The overall project leader was ProfessorTim O'Riordan, University ofEast Anglia, Norwich, UK, to whom we convey our thanks.The Swedish part was led by the undersigned, together with Professors Anders Hjort af Ornas and Ulrik Lohm, Linkoping University,asmembers ofthe core group.The European EUproject was reported in 200I in the book Globalism, Localism andIdentity. New Perspectives on the Transition to Sustainability, edited by Tim O'Riordan (Earthscan, London).
List of contents
1. Sustainability Issues at a Local Level Interplaying with the Global World - Political and Identity Topics.- 1. Sustainability Issues in an International Context.- 2. Summary.- 2. Critical Notes on Sustainability and Democracy.- 1. Democracy as a Problem.- 2. Sustainable Development as a Democratic Problem.- 3. Sustainable Development and Democratic Vitalization as Political Strategy.- 3. Sustainability as a Centrally-Induced Swedish Local Discourse.- 1. Swedish Follow-up of Our Common Future.- 2. Preparations for UNCED in 1992.- 3. Agenda 21 at the Central Level in Sweden.- 4. The LA21 Work - Meeting the Signals from the Central Level.- 5. Discussion.- 4. An Introduction to Östergötland, the Case Region.- 1. Province and County.- 2. County Administrative Board.- 3. County Council.- 4. Municipal Council.- 5. The History of Östergötland - A Brief Overview.- Perceptions of Environmental Issues in Linköping and Åtvidaberg.- 5. Four Pillars Forming the Identity of Linkoping.- 1. "It's a Quiet Town...".- 2. Ecclesiastical Centre: The Church - Working with the State and Against It.- 3. Centre of Regional Administration: State Politics, Power Struggles and the Long Arm of the State.- 4. Centre of Teaching and Learning: From Clerical Skills to World-class High-tech.- 5. Military Centre: Military Dominance - A Thing of the Past.- 6. Working in Linköping.- 7. Present and Future Linköping: Physical and Virtual Communications.- 8. The Art of Selling Linköping.- 9. From Rivalry to Co-operation.- 6. Linköping and Local Agenda 21: Sustainability, Technocracy or Democracy?.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Political Communication.- 3. Risk Communication.- 4. The Role of Science and the Technological Approach.- 5. Linköping and Local Agenda 21.- 6. The Media.- 7. TheMedia and LA21 in Linköping.- 8. The Public.- 9. Public Reactions to the Media.- 10. Discussion.- 7. Åtvidaberg and Identity Shifts: Breaking Up is Hard.- 1. Identity and Mobilization in Three Stages.- 2. The Big Industry Era: A History of Creativity and Drama.- 3. Political Centralization and Counter-moves.- 4. Local Focus: Encapsulation or an Add-on Identity Feature.- 5. Conclusions: The Place of a Garden City in a Global Village.- 8. Local Democracy Facing Global Challenge: Analysis and Conclusions.- 1. The Three Issues.- 2. Cross-over Themes.- 3. Future Potential Directions.- Contributors List.
